Massage - Leg and Foot
Leg massage is highly therapeutic and relaxing for the mother-to be. It improves circulation and can help to relieve and prevent fluid retention, varicose veins, cramps and aches and pains which many women suffer from during pregnancy.
The pregnant woman should adopt a side-lying position. Apply lots of gentle stroking effleurage movements, working from her ankles to her thigh. Always apply pressure on the upwards stroke. If there are varicose veins do not massage directly on to the affected veins. You can also perform picking up, rolling and wringing on the thigh. Omit the percussion movements.
It is also easy to massage the legs and feet while the mother be is lying on her back with plenty of cushions under her knees and under her head. If there is swelling and fluid retention raise her legs slightly.
- Place one of your hands on the front of her right leg and your other hand on the front of her left leg. Make gentle effleurage movements upwards from her ankles to her thighs on the front of her legs, gliding back with no pressure. Repeat these movements several times.
- Repeat the effleurage with both hands on the outside of both her legs several times.
- Repeat the effleurage gently on the inside of both legs.
- Squeeze, pick up and wring the inner, middle and outer thigh muscles, working one leg at a time.
- Stroke her entire foot sliding gently around the ankle bones and back again.
- Rotate her ankle clockwise and anticlockwise and dorsiflex (pull back) and plantar flex (point) her foot to reduce fluid retention around the vulnerable area.
- Friction the whole of the sole of her foot starting under her big toe and working outwards. Continue in horizontal rows until the rest of the sole has been completely covered.
- Repeat steps 5 to 7 on the other foot.
- Completion: Place one hand on each foot and squeeze gently.
Tags: , , ankle bones, ankles, big toe, cramps, cushions, effleurage, flex point, fluid retention, friction, horizontal rows, knees, left leg, legs and feet, percussion, pregnant woman, several times, thigh muscles, thighs, varicose veins, vulnerable area